Understanding Watchtower-Created Phobias

I have found two basic types of people that join cults (aside from those born into one – a story for another time). The first is the one that falls in love with the cult; it’s organization, personality of the leaders, charisma, energy, collective power, the supposedly miraculous, the supposed accurate foretelling of the future, the seeming clarity of life. While espousing ethereal beliefs and claiming fervently to “now having the only true religion,” their real interest lies, not in doctrine, but in the group itself. The victim perceives consciously or subconsciously that the group just happens to fulfill their own physical and psychological needs. Being a working part of the organization is the key to their mental health.  Their seeming interest in God is really taking a back seat to their own animal needs. These are the ones that will hang on to the cult for dear life. They can get out, but it will only be if they are disillusioned and lose the personal benefits (common scenario), or if they actually find another group or form of therapy that gives even greater personal returns (rare).

On the other hand, some individuals really are searching for God and are willing to listen to anything that sounds logical and meaningful, but are also willing to grow and change once given wiser, more accurate information. Often they have been loosely involved with other religious organizations in the past. They may be attracted to cults out of curiosity and the desire to learn what they are all about. Yet it is usually only a matter of time before the lying and obfuscation of the cult leadership shows through, and the spiritual adventurer will look for something better. Since they are really searching for ethereal truths, a controlling organization will stifle their spiritual growth and feel stale in time, offering diminishing returns. Cult mind control has much less effect on them, as they have less to lose in exiting the group than the first type mentioned above.

Either way, an intervention works basically the same way.

#1, The "Cut-to-the-Chase" Version :-

dub: Good morning. It's a beautiful day isn't it?

householder: Yes it is. What do you want?

dub: I'm here to tell you about your future. Would you like to know that future?

Hi, my name is Paul Morrison and I’m an ex-Jehovah’s Witness. By the end of this sorry tale I hope to be an ex-ex-Jehovah’s Witness. But not yet. I’m 40 years old later this year and happily married for 11 years now to Samantha. We have two boys – aged 4 and 2. We’re from the UK but currently find ourselves at the edge of the world and all of Western civilization about 50 yards from the Pacific Ocean in Hermosa Beach, LA. My story begins in Glasgow, Scotland - naturally my parents figured in this so let’s start with them.

In our jargon today, opening Pandora’s Box means to unwittingly unleash chaos on yourself and those around you. It was with these thoughts that I commenced one of the lectures that I gave three times in Europe this past summer.

Barbara delivered this lecture in Paris, France, and in Rimini, Italy

Knock, knock. "Hello, I’m stopping by briefly to share with you some good news. Many people feel under pressure because of the stressful times in which we live. Do you think God intended that we live this way? So many people are depressed. I bet you know somebody who is. I have this excellent magazine that discusses Help for Sufferers of Depression."

Sound familiar? In this audience are people who have done the knocking and given a similar message to the person who opened the door. Or some of you have heard such a message from Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs). Certainly, the message doesn’t sound dangerous. Why be afraid of JWs? They don’t handle snakes, rip your heart out, or make you drink poisoned Kool Aid. They won’t ask you to be a suicide bomber either.